Arne Slot's Liverpool suffered another gut-wrenching setback in their turbulent season, conceding a spectacular 97th-minute equaliser to draw 2-2 with Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday, 4th January 2026.
Dramatic Finale Denies Liverpool Victory
Just when it seemed Cody Gakpo's 95th-minute strike had secured a precious away win for the Reds, Fulham substitute Harrison Reed produced a moment of pure magic. With virtually the last kick of the game, the midfielder, who has scored only four goals in six years at the club, unleashed a 25-yard rocket into the top corner, sending the home fans into raptures and silencing the travelling Liverpool support.
The late drama capped a match heavily influenced by tight VAR decisions. Fulham had taken a first-half lead through Harry Wilson, who was initially flagged offside before a review showed he was played on by Virgil van Dijk's shoulder. Liverpool's equaliser from Florian Wirtz in the 57th minute also survived a lengthy VAR check for offside, with the Premier League's semi-automated technology and thicker lines giving the attacker the benefit of the doubt.
A Season of Inconsistency Continues
This result epitomises Liverpool's erratic campaign under Arne Slot. The draw represented a missed opportunity to pull clear in the race for the top four, with the team again showing vulnerability at key moments. They were hampered by attacking absences, with Hugo Ekitike injured, Mo Salah at AFCON, and Alexander Isak also sidelined.
Gakpo led the line with support from Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai, but the defence looked shaky under pressure. Fulham deserved their point, having also hit the crossbar through Wilson after the break. This continues a frustrating pattern for Liverpool against Marco Silva's side, who drew at Anfield and beat them during last season's title run-in.
Key Talking Points and Aftermath
The match will be remembered for Reed's stunning intervention, a genuine Goal of the Season contender that overshadowed the VAR controversies. For Liverpool's £116m midfielder Florian Wirtz, his well-taken goal was a second in four Premier League games, offering a glimmer of his potential to influence games.
However, the overriding narrative is one of more dropped points for Slot's team. In a season characterised by inconsistency and sloppiness, this felt like another occasion where they were blown off course just as they seemed to have secured a vital victory. The battle for Champions League qualification remains fiercely contested, and Liverpool's inability to see out games like this could prove costly come May.
